ANCIENT SKIES

Magazine Overview

Title: ANCIENT SKIES
Issue: Volume 8, Number 4
Date: September-October, 1981
Publisher: Ancient Astronaut Society
Country: USA
Theme: Ancient Astronauts, Mythology, Archaeology

"Cargo" Cults: Past and Present by Ulrich Dopatka

This article explores the phenomenon of "cargo cults," where primitive cultures interpret advanced technology and the beings associated with it as divine. Dopatka posits that such reactions are not new, tracing back to ancient times. He hypothesizes an event in 11,000 BC in the Teutoburger Forest, Germany, where primitives witnessed a strange object descend, emitting flames. Beings emerged, and one killed a bear with a flash of light. The memory of this event, distorted over generations, led to myths of superior beings from the sky.

The article draws parallels between these ancient reactions and modern "cargo cults" observed in remote areas of South America, Africa, New Guinea, and the Pacific Islands. A striking example is the island of Tanna in Melanesia, where the natives' religion centers on a figure named "John Frum" from "America." They believe he visited them long ago, taught them, and gave them gifts, promising to return. This religion developed rapidly upon contact with Western technology.

Dopatka argues that ancient peoples reacted similarly when confronted with technologically superior beings. He cites Christopher Columbus's arrival in the Bahamas, where natives welcomed him as a god. Hernando Cortez conquered the Aztec empire by being perceived as the god Quetzalcoatl, and Francisco Pizarro conquered the Inca empire by being seen as the god Viracocha. Similarly, Captain James Cook was viewed as the god Rongo by the Tahitians, Sir Walter Raleigh was welcomed triumphantly by the Virginia Indians, and Cabral was honored by the natives of Brazil.

The article also details the reactions of the Tasaday people in the Philippines to ethnologists arriving by helicopter, whom they viewed with fear and curiosity, calling the aircraft a "big bird." The Papuas of New Guinea described seaplanes as "devils from the sky" and steamboats as "God Tibut Amut smoking a long cigar." The desire for "cargo" led some New Guinean tribes to build "ghost-airports" with bamboo airplanes to attract their "gods."

Mrs. L. Barcelo's research on the Pemon tribe in Venezuela is also mentioned, where modern drawings of their god Chiricavai include a symbol for Russians, linking them to the satellite they placed in orbit, believing it could help them communicate with their god. The article concludes this section by suggesting that a "rocket-cult" might emerge in Zaire following a BBC documentary on a rocket launch.

Member Expedition to Mexico's Lake Miramar - 1982

This section announces an upcoming expedition organized by the Ancient Astronaut Society to explore the elusive Lake Petha (Miramar) in the Lacandon Jungles of southern Mexico. The expedition, scheduled for February 27 to March 11, 1982, will involve travel to Mexico City, Villahermosa, Tenosique, and then overland exploration. The itinerary includes visiting ruins at Palenque, Yaxchilan, and San Quintin, followed by nine days of camping and navigating the Jatate River and its rapids. The group will explore unexcavated ruins on islands in Lake Miramar, engage in swimming, fishing, and scuba-diving, and potentially search for crocodiles. The announcement urges interested individuals to contact the Society headquarters for details, emphasizing limited space.

Tiahuanacology and the Gate of the Sun by Prof. Hans Schindler Bellamy

Professor Hans Schindler Bellamy, in collaboration with the late Peter Allan, presents a reinterpretation of archaeology and mythology, proposing a "new dimension" of Space in research, suggesting migrations of culture bearers from extra-terrestrial regions. This has led to a new field, "ante-historical science."

The article focuses on the "Gate of the Sun" at Tiahuanaco, Bolivia, as a key archaeological monument. Bellamy and Allan argue that its intricate sculpture, previously dismissed as mere art, is actually a highly sophisticated "calendar" and a depository of astronomical, mathematical, and allied sciences from the Tiahuanacan culture. They contend that this "calendar" is not for ordinary daily use but reflects a unique system of notation and knowledge.

Bellamy explains that their analysis revealed the Tiahuanacan "solar year" was approximately 290 days, divided into 12 "twelfths" of 24 days each, plus two intercalary days. This is depicted in the sculpture. They also suggest that the Earth rotated more slowly at that time. The sculpture shows groupings of 37 and 447, which they interpret as related to solar eclipses and satellitic eclipses, respectively. The calendar also indicates the beginning of the year, equinoxes, solstices, and the obliquity of the ecliptic (then about 16 1/2 degrees).

Furthermore, the Tiahuanacans are credited with knowing that the Earth was a globe, calculating the pi-ratio as 22:7, and possessing knowledge of geometry and trigonometry. While no mathematical instruments have been found, the complexity of their work suggests advanced tools for stone working and heavy lifting.

Bellamy raises the question of how such complex calculations were performed without a known writing system, speculating about the use of computers by extraterrestrial culture bringers. He also notes that the Tiahuanaco culture appears to have no roots in the region, suggesting it "appeared" suddenly. The culture's acme was short-lived, possibly ending due to cataclysmic events related to the breakdown of a former "moon" (prior to the capture of Earth's current Moon around 12,000 years ago).

Bellamy concludes by suggesting that the Tiahuanaco culture might have been established by extraterrestrials attempting to revitalize Earth. He advocates for "Tiahuanacology" as a branch of prehistoric science.

Prof. Bellamy is the author of several books on the subject, including "The Calendar of Tiahuanaco," all of which are out of print. He is retired and lives in Vienna, Austria.

Recurring Themes and Editorial Stance

The recurring themes in this issue of Ancient Skies are the interpretation of ancient myths and artifacts through the lens of the ancient astronaut theory, the impact of advanced technology on primitive cultures (both historically and in modern times), and the exploration of enigmatic archaeological sites like Tiahuanaco. The editorial stance is clearly in favor of exploring these unconventional theories, presenting them as plausible explanations for historical mysteries and human development. The magazine actively promotes research into these areas, as evidenced by the announcement of the Mexico expedition and the dedicated articles on Dopatka's and Bellamy's work.